Car-coupling



' (No Model.) z sheets -sheet T. W. RANSON. 'CAR GOUPLING.

NO. 489,661. Patented Jan; 10, 1893,

tor.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. T. W. RANSON CAR GOUPLING. No. 489,(561. Patented- Jan. 10, 1893.

ot 7' F & ai ir ///7 flz tnesos I i i ltTED STATES PATENT Dridhet THOMAS W. RANSON, OF HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

CAR- -COUPLING..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,661, dated January 10, 1893.,

Application filed July 16, 1892. Serial No. 440,202. (No model.)

'automatic hook car couplers; and it consists in certain features of Construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the acconpanying drawings, Figures l and 2 are top plans mostly in horizontal section, the former showing the knuckle of the coupler in its open position ready for coupling, and the latter showing the coupling in its closed or locked position. Fig. 3 is a left hand side elevation, partly in longitudinal section on line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a left hand side elevation, partly in longit-udinal section on line 4-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the knuckle in its closed position with the coupling-pin held elevated as desired, for instance, in pushing cars about the yard or on side-tracks without coupling the cars; Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a draw bar and a the head thereof, the head being chambered, as at a', to receive knuckle B that is pivotally connected with the draw-head in the usual manner by means of a vertical pin or bolt C. Knuckle B has a lateral inwardly-projecting arn b, and chamber a' of the draw-bar-head is of suitable size to receive said arm of the knuckle in the closed or locked position of the same. The draw-bar is chambered longitudinally, as at A', said chanber at its forward end being in open relation with the chamber of the draW-barhead.

D represents a block or plunger adapted to reciprocate endwise of the chamber of the draw-bar. Sliding-block or plunger D is reduced in size at or near its rear end, forming shoulders, as at d, between which and the rear wall of the chamber of the draw-bar is confined a coil-spring E that is adapted to act in the direction against shoulders d of the sliding-block or plunger.

Arm b of the knuckle, at its inward1y-pre senting side, is preferably rounded or convex, as at b'. In the closed position of the knuckle shown in Figs. 2 and 4, (Wherein the knuckle is shown locked by neansof coupling-pin F), sliding-block or plunger D engages the inner extremity of arm b of the knuckle, and the arrangement of parts is such that this engagement takes place at such a point relative to the aXis of the knuckle that when the coupling-pin is elevated or withdrawn in uncoupling cars, sliding-block or plunger D, by means of spring E, will be actuated forwardly to cause the knuckle to be automatically opened, as shown in Fig. 1, and said sliding-block or plunger will hold the knuckle in the proper open position, ready for coupling.

By the construction just described, it will be observed that when two opposin g couplers come together there is no clashing of the parts, but by means of the spring-cushioned slidingblock or plunger the knuckles of the opposing couplers engage each other gently and there is no liability of the parts being broken or in any wise injured. i

The draw-head is enlarged upwardly and rearwardly, as at & Said enlarged portion of the draw-head has a pocket or chanber, c that at its lower end is in open relation with the chainber of the draw-bar, and at the front side is in open relation with vertical perforation (0 provided for the passage of the coupling-pin that rests upon sliding-block or plungerD preparatory to coupling. Within pocket or chamber ct is located a movable block G. This block is preferably of the shape shown (see Figs, 3, 4, 5, and 6), the block being adapted to ride up and down a rearwardlyextending incline & at one side of pocket or chamber a and a rearwardly-extending incline a being also provided at the forward side of the top of chamber c the block having a depending member g adapted to be engaged by the rearwardly inclining bottom or floor d' of a recess d in the top of the forward end of sliding-block or plunger D. Block Gr has also a forwardly-projecting lug or mem- IOO ber, g', that is adapted to engage the top wall of a recessfin the rear side of the lower end of the coupling-pin, whereby the latter is held elevated when it is not desired to couple the cars, as for instance, in pushing cars about a yard or on side-tracks. The lower part (0 of the front wall of pocket or chambercaftords bearing for block G in the position of the latter holding the coupling-pin elevated.

From the foregoing description of the various parts it is believed their operation will be readily understood.

Briefly described, the operation is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in coupling, arm b of the knuckle is swung inward, into the chamber of the draw-head. Sliding-block or plunger D that holds the coupling-pin elevated is thereby forced rearward into the chamber of the draw-bar and having been forced to its rearward limit, the couplingpin drops by gravity at the inner side or forward of the free end of the knuckle and forward of the sliding-block or plunger, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, thereby securely looking the knuckle and sliding-block or plunger in said position. In uncoupling, the coupling-pin is merely withdrawn or elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon the sliding-block or plunger, by the action of spring E, is forced forward, resulting in the opening of the knuckle, as hereinbefore indicated.

During the operation of coupling and uncoupling, block Gr performs no function, but is supported idly upon incline 60 that, as aforesaid, is provided at the side of pocket orchamber a If it is desired to push cars about, for instance, in yards or upon side-tracks, without coupling the cars, the couplingpin is ele- Vated to permit block Gto slide down incline & into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 depending member g of the block entering recess d in sliding-block or plunger D and forwardly-projecting`lug or member g' of block G entering the recess in the lower end of the coupling pin, the arrangement of parts being such that in such position of block G, forWardly-projecting lug or member g' of the block will engage the top wall of the recess in the coupling-pin and hold the latter elevated as desired. In separating the cars, the tension of spring E will cause block or plunger D to be pushed forward, and incline d' will engage the lower end of depending member g of block G and cause the latter to be elevated to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, inclines & and a positively eitecting the disengagement of block Grfrom the couplingpin during the elevation of the block by incline d', the coupling-pin of course being lifted more or less during such engagement, Whereupon the coupling-pin will return to its position resting upon sliding-block or plunger D ready to perform its function of locking the sliding-blockor plunger and knuckle of the coupler in the closed or coupled position of the knuckle.

XVhat I claim is:

1. In a hook car-coupler, the combination with the draw-bar and draw-bar-head, chambered substantially as described, and a knuckle pivotally connected with the drawbar-head, of a sliding-block or plunger adapted to nove endwise of 'the chamber of the draw-bar and engage and hold the knuckle in open position preparatory to coupling, said block or plunger being reduced 'in size forming shoulders, as at d, and a coil-spring confined between said shoulders and the rear wall of the chamber of the draw-bar and acting in the direction forward against said sliding-block or plunger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a hook-car-coupler, the combination with the chambered draw-bar'and draw-bar head, and a knuckle pivotally connected with the draW-bar-head, of a spring-actuated block or plunger, adapted to operate endwise of the chamber of the draw-bar, the inWardly-presenting side of the knuckle being rounded or COIlVeX, as at b', and the arrangement of parts being such that, in uncoupling, the knuckle will be automatcallyopened by; said spring actuated block or plunger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hook car-coupler, the combination with the chambered draw-bar and draw-barhead, the draw-bar-head being provided with Vertical perforation, (0 for the passage-of the 'coupling-pin, and a knuckle pivotally con-` nected with the draw-bar-head, ofa spring actuated sliding-block or plunger adapted to" operate endwise of the chamber of the draw* bar and engage and hold the knuckle open' sliding-block or plunger rearward and permits` the coupling-pin to drop in advance of' said block or plunger and lock the knuckle in' its closed position, substantially as set'forth.

4. In a hook car-coupler, the combination with the chambered draw-bar and draw-'barhead, the draw-bar-head being provided' with a vertical perforation for the passage of the coupling-pin, a knuckle pivotally connected with the draw-bar-head and a block or plunger adapted to slide endwise of the'chamber of the draw-bar and hold the knuckle in its open position, of suitable means for holding the coupling pin elevated iu the closed posi tion of the knuckle, substantially as'set forth'.

5. In a hook-car-coupler, the combination with the draw-bar and draw-bar-head, chambered substantially as described, a knuckle pivotallyconnected with the draw-bar-head and a sliding-block or plunger adapted to operate endwise of the chamber of the draw-bar, the draw-bar-head having a perforation, as at IOO IIO

a for the passage of the coupling-pin and a pooket or chamber, a in open relation with the chanber of the draw-bar and in open relation with perforation & of a movable block located within said pooket or ohamber and adapted to hold the coupling-pin elevated in the closed position of the knuckle and suitable means for automatically releasing the coupling-pin with the forward movement of the aforesaid sliding-biock or plunger, substantially as set forth.

6. In a hook car-couplerthe combination with the draw-bar and draW-bar-head chambered substantially as described, a knuckle pivotaily connected With the draW-bar-head and a sliding-block or piunger adapted to ope'ate endwise of the chamber of the draw-bar, the draw-bar-head having a Vertical perforation, as at 60 for the passage of the couplingpin, and a pocket or ohamber (1 in open relation with the chanber of the draw-bar, and in open relation with perforation a of a movable block located within said pocket or chanber, and adapted to hold the oo ipling-pin elevated in the closed position of the knuckle, and means substantially as indicated for automaticaily releasing the coupling-pin with the forward movement of the aforesaid sliding-block or plunger, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification,in the presence of two witnesses, this 2d day of July, 1892.

THOMAS W. RANSON. Witnesses:

,ALBERT V'. RANsoN, WILLIAM T. RANSON. 

